One of today's leading international conductors, Christoph Eschenbach has been Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris in France since 2000. From 2003-2008, he was Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra in the United States. A sought-after figure on the guest conducting circuit, he regularly conducts major American and European orchestras. His creative insight and dynamic energy as a conductor, a collaborator and ardent champion of young musicians, have led to his being acclaimed as "one of the best musicians of our day".

A prolific recording artist, Christoph Eschenbach has made numerous recordings on various labels as conductor, pianist, or both. His discography includes works of Bach, Bartók, Berg, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Mozart, Ravel, Schoenberg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. A champion of contemporary music, Christoph Eschenbach has also recorded works by such composers as Adams, Berio, Glass, Lourié, Picker, Pintscher, Rouse, and Schnittke. For Ondine, Christoph Eschenbach has made a number of recordings with both the Orchestre de Paris and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Before turning to conducting, Christoph Eschenbach had earned a distinguished reputation as a concert pianist. He began winning major competitions at the age of 11, and made his United States debut in 1969 with the Cleveland Orchestra. He learned the art of conducting under, among others, George Szell, who personally took him as his protégé, and with whom he worked for over three years. In addition, Herbert von Karajan was his mentor for nearly 25 years, and he credits him as having had a tremendous influence on his development as a conductor.

Christoph Eschenbach made his conducting debut in Hamburg in 1972. In 1981 he was named Principal Guest Conductor of Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra, and was Chief Conductor from 1982 to 1986. Additional posts include Music Director of the Houston Symphony (1988-1999), Chief Conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra (1998-2004), Music Director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (1999-2002), and Music Director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1994-2003).

Among Christoph Eschenbach's most recent awards are the 'Légion d'honneur' of France and the 'Officer's Cross with Star and Ribbon' of the German Order of Merit. In 1993 he received the 'Leonard Bernstein Award', presented to him by the Pacific Music Festival, where he served as Co-Artistic Director from 1992 to 1998.


More information:
Christoph Eschenbach, piano
Official Website
Orchestre de Paris
Opus 3 Artists